MultiprocessingThe demanding Art of

Cross Country Racing

US Team/Region 1 XC/Racing CampDoug Jacobs

There’s lots going on in a soaring There’s lots going on in a soaring flight . . . . flight . . . .

• Trying to Thermal optimally• Staying Safe if in a Gaggle• Deciding how high to take the thermal?• Deciding where to go next?• Deciding what path to get there• Choosing the best thermal for the next

stopCross country soaring is as much about

decision making as flying the glider

There’s even more going on when There’s even more going on when you’re racingyou’re racing

• When to Start • Starting strategies• Fooling with the flight computer • Deciding on the next turnpoint in a MAT?• Deciding where to turn in an Assigned Area Task?• Figuring out your Final Glide

Racing is primarily a mental performance sport, about optimal decision making with imperfect information

To excel, the cross country or racing pilot

must deal with a complex mental workload

And when the canopy comes down, IQ is cut in half (at least!)

How to deal with the complexity?• By recognizing it’s elements• By minimizing non-critical distractions• By practicing required actions so they become

second nature• By continually analyzing flight performance in a

systematic way

• Most important is basic ship handling– Thermal corrections, bank angle changes, speed changes and the like

are automatic – How? Just like how you get to Carnegie Hall – practice, practice,

practice– Don’t sand on weak days, go fly!

• Know your electronics cold– Radio frequency changing– Flight computer programming

• Must avoid any unnecessary distractions– The radio– Physical comfort– Excessive emotion

• Prepare everything possible for the flight before you launch– Flight computer programmed

• B and C tasks as well– Task fully memorized– Ground crew/retrieve arrangements made

• Car keys stay in the crew car– Checklist completed – Lunch/water/relief ready to go and at hand

Subtract anything that will take your mind off the flight

Physiological factors are importantPhysiological factors are importantPhysical fitness leads to mental fitness

• Well rested

• Something to eat

• Plenty to drink

• Positive mental attitude, self confident

• Calm emotional outlook

• Ability to put mistakes behind you

Develop a mental scanDevelop a mental scan 3/30/3/30 process 3/30/3/30 process

• What am I going to do in 3 seconds?• Not get hit by that glider above/below/ahead • Open/close my turn to move my circle

• What am I going to do in 30 seconds?– Speed up/slow down (in the run)– Turn in this lift or keep going?– Stay with this thermal or leave– Follow that glider or go my own way

Develop a mental scanDevelop a mental scan 3/30/3/30 process 3/30/3/30 process

• What am I going to do in three minutes?– How do I exit this thermal?– Do I see markers down course?– Go for the clouds on the left or right?

• What am I going to do in 30 minutes?– Are the clouds better/worse down course?– How are the streets/energy lines developing?– What’s my next pilot designated turnpoint?– When will I have enough for final glide?

• Mentally roll through the 3/30/3/30 mantra constantly

• Recognize distraction, deal with it, back to the mantra

• Keep this going the whole flight